Later-life planning

Planning for the future

Have you ever wondered whether your investments are ethical? Do you worry about what you might end up eating if you get dementia? And what might happen to your estate – or indeed your body – when you have gone? It’s never too soon to think about these things. We hope that the information below will give you some answers.


Self-advocacy

Are you confident about protecting your vegan or vegetarian identity and beliefs – now and in the future? Needing care can be a worrying experience. Among the challenges may be a sense of losing control over your diet. With less independence, people may be unable to shop, cook and ensure that their dietary values and beliefs are being met.

VfL's self-advocacy pack outlines the laws that safeguard dignity and choices in care. It details the steps you can take to ensure that you are cared for in line with your beliefs.

  • Understand your rights as a vegan or vegetarian.
  • Where to access support and information (care homes, legal, nutrition).
  • Step-by-step guide to ensuring that your rights are respected in case of loss of capacity or cognition or when receiving care.
  • Template letters to use if admitted to hospital or receiving care.

You can download a copy of our guide here, or your can purchase a copy from our online shop.


Loss of capacity and requests for ‘unusual foods’

What does dementia mean for people on special diets, and those who cater for them?

The decision to be vegetarian or vegan often reflects deeply-held ethical, environmental, or religious convictions. But V for Life is currently only aware of three fully vegetarian care homes in the UK, two offering Indian/Gujarati food.

This means that people with vegetarian or vegan philosophical beliefs are likely to be a minority group in a care setting. They are already found in at least one in every five UK care homes, according to V for Life’s 2019 survey.

Find out more about managing loss of capacity and requests for meat here. For guidance on protecting your vegetarian or vegan identity, please see V for Life’s advance-care planning supplement here.


Older people and home

Housing is an important issue for the growing population of older people in the UK – for the simple reason that the vast majority of us are homeowners. In England, an amazing 73% of over-65s are homeowners, and the majority own their home outright with no mortgage. In many ways this situation brings advantages, such as security, or knowing that through selling your house you could free up a significant sum of money.

The good news is that there are now more housing alternatives available for older people than ever before. And many organisations offer advice and a helping hand when making your decision. Read our article My home (from page 21) to find out more about some of the options available.


The five most important things to know about investing ethically

Responsible investment has a long history dating back to the 19th century. Its roots can be found among religious movements such as Methodists and Quakers. The first ‘modern’ ethical fund – the Pax fund – was launched in 1971 to avoid investments in the Vietnam War. And the first UK fund – the Stewardship fund – was launched in 1984 by Friends Provident. Discover the five most important things to know about investing ethically here (see page 23).


The Good Funeral Guide

Fran Hall, CEO of The Good Funeral Guide talks to V for Life about matters of life and death (see page 24).